Page 30 (1/2)

She was led through the foyer, past a gorgeous and huge great roo rooe kitchen, out onto a redwood deck that was furnished with handsome wicker patio furniture that would be asroo house," Vanni said

"We’ll give you the tour later if you want one," Stan said "A builder’s house has to be a good house--people look at that It’s way more than we need, for sure, but Marianne wants rooet everyone?"

"I’d love a beer," Vanni said, sitting in one of the chairs outside

Marianne followed, still clutching the baby possessively, holding hiainst her "Sure, sweetie," she said to her husband without ever taking her eyes off the baby She rated to a chair near Vanessa while Paul ith his dad to get beer "He’s so beautiful," she said "So sweet Is he a good baby?"

"He is," Vanni said "Sleeps through the night and is hardly ever in a bad ets a lot of attention, so I’ive a baby too randchildren"

"Yes," she said "Three boys, two girls They’re brilliant, each one Oh, I could eat this little one up!" Marianne turned her eyes toward Vanni and said softly, "I’m so sorry for your loss, Vanessa We miss him, too"

"Thank you I remember your card and flowers"

"It was so wonderful for Paul to be with you when this one was born He talks about it"

She laughed "Does he tell you about how hard he tried to get out of it?" she asked just as Paul came back onto the deck to hand her a beer He stood behind her chair and that hand was again on her shoulder

"He doesn’t admit to that, but it doesn’t surprise me," his mother said

Vanni reached up to caress the hand that possessed her And it wasn’t until that ed looks with her husband

"Yes, Morandparents you two are, she agreed to reed toto die a lonely old man after all" Vanni looked up at hio in a surprised breath "Oh, how long has this been going on?"

"For ht a little while ago But I think she can convince you she’s happy"

S, Vanni said, "I’m happy Very happy"

Stan stuck out a hand to his son "Congratulations, son This is good news" Then he stooped to put a kiss on Vanni’s cheek "Welcohter," he said "It’s an honor An honor"

All Marianne said was, "Excellent I don’t have to let go of this baby for a second!" Then her face sobered and she said, "Oh, forgive rinned happily and said, "You and the baby!"

It wasn’t long before the rest of the Haggerty family arrived--Mitch and Jenny and their three kids, North and Susan and their two--the wo fas, everyone offering their condolences for Matt’s death since the boys had grown up together The baby was fussed over and passed froe of the baby while Vanni joined the wo the ht adults, five kids and a baby is a loud affair, but Vanni felt so much es’ Paul’s ht, has such an ideal existence, surrounded by loving family, her life filled with happy noise and sht This is what I want to do next

Before dinner was consulass to toast Vanessa and Paul’s engages folloith questions about the when and where, to which Vanni and Paul could only answer, "The sooner the better After all--we’ve known each other for years"

When dinner was over, the cleanup and female chatter continued, and Vanni pitched in happily It was during this time that she stole a look at Paul, out on the deck with his father and brothers, jiggling Mattie against his chest, trying to keep hi too fussy as he waited for hisanxiously, ready for a feeding, but Paul was completely comfortable and confident

When the last dish was put up, Vanni asked Marianne if she could borrow a bedroom to nurse the baby "Of course, sweetheart," the older woman answered "But no one in this fa mom, not even the children Do whatever you’d rather--take a bedroom or sit with us, it’s entirely up to you We’re kind of homespun around here"

"What about the men?" Vanni asked

"They’re even less uncoie to the breast, deht over to me, lifted the blanket and said, ‘Marianne, honey, coood this little critter sucks!’"

"Oh, my," Vanni said "Think they’ll stay outside a while?"

"I think Stan will give you tiet used to us before he pulls his tricks," Marianne said with a s"

So Vanni went to collect her son fro with the women, who had a hundred questions about Vanni and Paul and how the whole ro to his business partners, his fain River and the surrounding towns When Jack was looking for a contractor to help hiht rinned "That and all the overtime he paid"

"Hoould you prefer to do it?" Mitch asked

"I could extend the company into another branch and we could participate in any profits, or I could use my house equity to start my own company, since the house is paid for I leave that to you"

"You have plenty of stock in Haggerty Construction," Stan said "If you want to cash out…"